Sunday, August 31, 2008

I am conducting my first drawn out, detailed tasting session, which may last for weeks (one tea) if I do it correctly. The tea is a vintage 2004 high-roast Wuyi oolong of undoubtedly top pedigree.

Today I brewed the tea for 7 times. It was lovely and full of energy! The vibrancy of the 7th cup left me with little doubt that this tea can endure the long haul. I'm reserving my tasting notes for later.

We hit the beach in the afternoon. It was cloudy and a bit chilly, though the water was nice and warm.

Your second day colors looks like mine. Maybe I was just brewing lighter than you. I am way out of my league with tea of this quality, but I'm loving it and very greatful to Toki for sharing so generously with a beginner like me.

BTW, I really enjoy your photos, especially day 2. You brew all the cups at once and then sit down to drink them? The last ones must be pretty room temp. You drink all those cups over how long a period of time?

The small white cups are the brew progressions (#1 - 15, missing #8 because it was used to re-heat the leaves, but the tea was drunk). The slightly larger white cup is the latest brew that is about to be drunk.

[Each infusion goes into the bigger and the smaller cups]

The last thing I do before I end the session is to go back to the earliest brew by drinking the small cups in slow succession. I think the point is to further compare the brew progression one right after another, even though they are not as warm anymore.

Day 1: the small cup furthest away (top of picture) is brew #1.

Day 2: the small cup @ 12 o'clock is brew # 9 and its successive brews, clockwise.